Mail-pouch lock.



C. 0. HOLLlDAY.

MAIL POUCH LOCK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1915;

1,187,526. Patented June 20, 1916.

Attorney CHARLES O. I-IOLLIDAY, OF TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-POUCH LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed February 25, 1915. Serial No. 10,534.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES O. IIOLLIDAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taylorville, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Mail-Pouch Look, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a clasp or closure adapted to be applied to mail bags and the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a structure of the sort above mentioned which will effect a tight and automatic closure of a mail bag.

The invention aims to provide novel jaws, combined with novel means whereby the said jaws may be assembled with a mail bag.

It is within the scope'of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows the invention in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a fragmental longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a top plan, the mail bag being opened; Fig. 4. is a fragmental section wherein one jaw appears in open position.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a pair of arched jaws 1 and 2 preferably made out of metal, the jaws 1 and 2 lying opposite to each other and in alinement when the jaws are closed together. The jaw 1 is provided with a perpendicularly disposed inwardly projecting flange 3 adapted to abut against a perpendicularly disposed inwardly projecting flange 4 on the jaw 2. The flange 3 carries a resilient means which, coacting with the flange l, tends to move the jaws 4: to open position when a locking mechanism to be described hereinafter is unlocked. This resilient means may be of any desired form. As

hown, a spring tongue 5 is struck from theflange 3 and bears against the flange 4, and? a skilled mechanic will understand, without specific illustration that the tongue 5 need not be formed integrally with the flange 3 but may be secured thereto in any desired manner.

The jaw 2 preferably is somewhat wider 1n its intermediate portion or crown than is the aw 1 to accommodate a lock 6 of any desired construction which is placed beneath the aw 2 and secured thereto, the jaw 2 having key hole 7 alined with the key hole in the case of the lock 6. Projecting from the flange 3 of the jaw 1 are one or more strikmg plates 8 adapted to enter the lock case 6 and to be engaged by the locking 1nechanism therein, the construction of the lock 6 preferably being such that when the jaws 1 and 2 are closed to bring the flanges 3 and 4: together, the striking plates 8 will be engaged automatically and held.

The mail bag is denoted by the numeral 9 and is cut at its upper end to conform to the curvature of the jaws 1 and 2. The upper edge of the mail bag 9 is placed against the under faces of the jaws 1 and 2 near to their lateral or outer edges, and againstthe edges of the bag 9 are placed reinforcing strips 10 which preferably are fashioned from metal. Securing devices which may be rivets 11 pass through the strips 10, the edges of the bag 9 and through the jaws 1 and 2 to hold the bag upon the jaws. The side portions of the bag 9 may be provided with rectangular metal reinforcing plates 12 which preferably are of approximately triangular form, the reinforcing plates 12 being held on the bag by means of rivets 11 or the like. The plates 12 carry pivot elements 15 engaged with reduced ears 1? formed at the ends of the jaws l and 2. If desired, the jaws 1 and 2 may be provided with openings 16 whereby the mail bag may be upheld when the same is opened, as shown in Fig. 3, the openings 16 being adapted to receive the hooks which are found commonly upon standard mail bag racks.

In operation, when the lock 6 is unlocked, the spring 5, pressing against the flange 1 will tend to throw the jaws 1 and 2 apart. The jaws may be opened wide, as shown in Fig. 3, and thereupon the structure may be suspended upon the rack hooks, as herein before set forth.

The invention herein disclosed is of such a character that standard mail bags may be assembled therewith by a simple trimming of the upper end of the mail bag. The

structure herein disclosed will effect a maximum security, and it will be practically impossible to open the device saving by means of a key or by cutting the bag 9 to pieces.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is lQIn a device of the'class described, a bag; a pair of arched jaws assembled with the bag and disposed transversely of the axis of the bag and in alinement to form a closure for the top of the bag, the jaws being provided upon their inner edges with abutting flanges disposed approximately parallel tothe longitudinal center line of the bag; a keeper outstanding from the flange of one jaw and adapted to pass through the flange of the other jaw; and a lock disposed in the angle defined by said other jaw and its flange, and located within the bag, the

as my own, I have hereto afiiXed my signa- I ture in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. O. HOLLIDAY. Witnesses:

V. O. BLoxAM, HARVEY E. GOLLQGHER.

copies 0! this patent may be obtained m five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

